Sydney Trains T set

N5146 vestibule looking towards steps leading to lower and upper decks, prior to refurbishment

In July 1986, the Government of New South Wales awarded A Goninan & Co a contract for 450 carriages.[2] In 1993 it was decided that the last 80 carriages of the order would be built to a modified design to operate peak-hour services to Wyong, Port Kembla and Dapto.[3] In 1996 five spare driving trailers were ordered.[4]

Steps to upper and lower decks, after refurbishment

The first train (set T20) was unveiled at Sydney Central in December 1987, heavily promoted as the “train of the 21st century”,[5] entering service in April 1988. The final T set (set T59) was delivered in February 1994 and the final G set (set T100, formerly G32) in October 1995.[6]

The cars built were:

T set driving trailer cars: D6101-D6284 with additional spare cars D6285-D6289

T set non-driving motor cars: N5101-N5284 with additional spare car N5285

G set driving trailer cars: OD6801-OD6840 with additional spare car OD6841

G set non-driving motor cars: ON5801-ON5820

G set non-driving motor cars with toilet: ONL5851-ONL5870

Vestibule after refurbishment

In late 2005, 15 V set carriages were suddenly withdrawn due to the discovery of corrosion in their underframes. G sets began to operate more off-peak Intercity services to Port Kembla, Kiama, and Wyong to cover for the withdrawn V sets. H sets started entering service in December 2006. The newer trains feature a very similar level of passenger amenity to the G sets and can be seen as a continuation of the design. Their introduction lead to a change in the role of the G sets. From 2007, the G sets were progressively redeployed to suburban services, providing extra capacity on high-demand existing services such as on the Western line and allowing new services to be introduced. By 2008, G sets were often used on peak suburban services that extended into intercity areas, such as services to Springwood (via the Western line).

In 2009, the conversion of G sets to T sets began, to improve their suitability for suburban working as H sets took over their outer suburban duties. Conversion work consisted of the removal of toilets and their replacement with additional seating. Other work included the installation of new handrails and hangers and the recoding of cars and sets. The carriage numbers were kept, however the O (outer suburban) prefix was dropped. OD became D, while ONL and ON became N. The set numbers were changed from G1-30 to T100-130. G4 was the first to be converted (into T104). In 2010, sets being converted started receiving a full interior refurbishment as part of the program to refurbish all the Tangara carriages. In 2018, sets T14 and T121 (ex G21) both became mixtures of T set and ex-G set carriages, with both sets swapping two carriages with each other.

T sets

G sets

Tangaras in original condition.

In 2010, a refresh of the Tangaras commenced with the interiors repainted, and new seating upholstery and handrails fitted.[7][8]

In July 2013, Sydney Trains trialled rearranging the seating on the upper and lower decks of two carriages. There were 16 fewer seats per carriage; 3x2 seats were replaced by 2x2 seats in one carriage (N5134 on set T78) while in the other carriage (N5131 on set T77) there are double seats on one side and a bench style seating on the other. Both carriages were later returned to the normal 3x2 arrangement.[9]

In 2014, phase one of a technology upgrade program, aiming to improve reliability and upgrade ageing components, was underway.[10] A contract for phase two of the program, aiming to extend the life of these trains and bring technology into line with newer trains was awarded to UGL Limited in August 2015. This was expected to be completed by July 2018.[11][12] The expected completion date has been revised to 2019.[13]

The first phase of the program involved upgrading the passenger doors to cut down on vandalism, as the steel panels on the original doors were prone to being kicked out by vandals. The door kicking incidents often led to unnecessary delays as the guard had to lock off the affected carriage. The new lightweight passenger doors have a similar design to the doors on the Millennium M sets, namely the window shape with the curved bottom. This phase of the project was completed at the end of July 2016. The first set to receive the new doors was T96, in October 2014.

The program includes overhauling air conditioning units and windscreen wiper units, replacing passenger side doors, train operating systems and driver's desks.[10]

Other anti-vandal improvements included the introduction of 'Mousetrap' sensors. Trialed in 2015, these sensors are able to detect vapors from strong permanent markers and spray paint; triggering an in-built camera feed which is relayed to Sydney Trains staff as well as the Police Transport Command.[14]

The following Tangara carriages have been scrapped due to accidents:

Driving Trailer Cars: D6114, D6127, D6274, OD6831 & OD6832

Motor Cars: N5127, ON5816 & ONL5866

The following are replacement carriages:

D6285 & N5285 are on set T19 (replacing written-off cars D6127 & N5127)

D6286 is on set T99 (replacing written-off D6274)

D6287 is on set T73 (replacing written-off D6114)

D6108 is on set T16 (replacing D6241 which has been stripped for spare parts)

D6288 is on set T71 (replacing D6108 which is replacing D6241)

D6289 is on set T24 (replacing D6148 which replaced D6106 on set T1, until D6106 returned to T1)

D6184 is on set T37 (repaired set back to normal)

D6841 is on set T103 (replacing D6823)

D6252 is on set T13 (replacing D6249)

D6807, N5252 & D6148 are on set T121 (replacing D6841, N5854 & D6808)

D6808 & N5854 are on set T14 (replacing D6252 & N5252)

Ex-G Set car D6841 has previously filled in for D6811, D6174, D6208, and then D6807 as a spare car over the years.

D6807 also filled in for D6273 on T99 in January 2001 as a spare car before D6273 was returned to T99.

Driving trailer car D6127 and motor car N5127 were both involved in the Wentworthville train derailment on 27 December 1989, the first major accident involving the Tangara fleet. D6127 was written off, having collided with the platform. N5127 was sent to Dunheved on the Ropes Creek line for training fire fighters, along with S Set car C3866.[15]

The Tangaras usually operate on the following lines:

• T1 North Shore & Western Line: Emu Plains to City via Parramatta, City to Berowra or Hornsby via Gordon
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line: Bondi Junction to Waterfall & Cronulla via Hurstville & Sutherland
• T7 Olympic Park Line: Lidcombe to Olympic Park
• T9 Northern Line: Gordon to Hornsby via Strathfield
• South Coast Line: Waterfall & Thirroul to Port Kembla

Since 2013, their operation on Sector 2 has ended timetable services with all of them being displaced to Sector 1 since A sets do not operate on that sector.

Occasionally, as required, they will operate on other suburban lines, as all drivers are trained for Tangaras.

During evening peak on 15 January 2014, motor car N5222 on set T10 was pierced by a guard rail near Edgecliff railway station while on a service to Cronulla. Issues with the train were already developing on the previous run, triggering wheelslip sensors on the train multiple times. As the train entered the Eastern Suburbs Line, a strong burning smell was reported at several stations. It was later revealed that an incorrectly repaired axle on N5222 led to the force of the 440-tonne train picking up the piece of guard rail. [16]

Just after 5 AM on 23 August 2019, set T50 blocked a critical line near Town Hall station due to a loose roof hatch on driving trailer car D6223, believed to have been damaged by a falling tree branch the night before. The roof hatch was dangerously close to the overhead electrical lines, and so power had to be isolated before moving it. This led to serious delays throughout the entire train network that disrupted both the morning and evening peak. Roads throughout Sydney were also blocked due to not coping with replacement buses. [17]